Monday, 13 July 2015

The Cycling for Libraries project is a library unconference on the move, which visits academic, public and special libraries, discussing library issues and advocating libraries.

Our last event in May saw a select group of CLG enthusiasts
gather at the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit (thanks to our secretary
Kevin for the very comfortable venue!) to hear Phil Segall of Kingston
University, London, talk about his own experience of the Cycling for Libraries
unconference. A two-time veteran of the tour, Phil was drawn to the project by
his interest in international librarianship, and his talk gave us a great taste
of what it was like to take part.

Team spirit –
participants on tour. Photo by kind permission of Phil Segall.

In Phil’s first tour in 2013, participants pedalled from
Holland to Belgium, braving North Sea cross winds and cycling up to 100 km in a
day. We enjoy a snippet of video from day 1 (visit the Cycling for Libraries
website to see more videos- they’re great) – there’s something very inspiring
about seeing a flood of over 100 librarians and/or library enthusiasts sailing
through the streets of Amsterdam. Passion for libraries doesn’t get much more high-vis
than this! Stop offs included major university libraries , like the Technische
Universiteit Delft and the Ghent Book Tower (UniversiteitsbibliotheekBoekentoren Gent), as well as
more unusual libraries, such as Affligen Monastery Library, and the Haarlem
Stationbibliotheek, one of a developing network of libraries based in railway
stations around Holland. Participants were able to make a real push for support
for public libraries when they met with Dutch MEPs at the Hague, and members of
the European parliament in Brussels, with 214 signing their written declaration
calling for recognition of the essential services provided by public libraries.

Library advocacy –
participants at the European Parliament. Photo by kind permission of Phil
Segall.

Phil’s second tour in 2014, organised by Cyclo-Biblio, again
put the importance of public library advocacy at the head of its agenda. From
Montpellier the participants followed the Rhone to Lyon, ending up at the
bilingual World Library and Information Conference in August. In a tour that
embraced both rural and urban visits, visits included the Mediatheque Centrale
Emile Zola, the University Library at Lyon and (in a side-step from libraries,
but one very relevant to the participants) a vineyard and bicycle museum.

One of Phil’s many great tour photos shows a participant
collapsed in (triumphant) exhaustion, but it’s clear the physical challenge is
offset by the fun of seeing so many and so varied a collection of libraries,
from mobile libraries to museum libraries, and by the brilliant learning
opportunities provided along the way. It’s fascinating to see how in Holland
(where many public libraries are not free of charge for adults) libraries are
pushing their services through bold advertising – if only UK libraries had such
a great billboard presence – and trying to bring books to the public by setting
up libraries where there’s a ready audience – not only in train stations but
even at Amsterdam airport. Seeing how different libraries use their data and
manage their services is a great source of inspiration.

Where can a chicken
find out about her eggs…? Eye-catching library advertising from Holland. Photo by
kind permission of Phil Segall.

As Phil has shown us, an unconference on wheels -
simultaneously an advocacy drive, a learning experience and a leisure trip –
might have its fair share of challenges (the video of the intrepid cyclists
crossing a main junction in France is, frankly, a little daunting – luckily
road captains are on hand to halt the traffic!), but from what we saw in this
great presentation, the rewards are more than worth the effort.

The Cambridge Library Group (CLG) is a society for those with an interest in books, libraries and information. Members enjoy a varied programme of talks, visits and social events at roughly monthly intervals.